Wilmington emotional support farm animal proposal on hold

Wilmington city officials detail the proposed support animal ordinance in a recent committee meeting. Sponsor Councilman Nnamdi Chukwuocha and city officials David Karas and Kylie Taylor said the ordinance would fill a gap in city law.
William Bretzger/The News Journal

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Wilmington City Council member Nnamdi Chukwuocha during a regular meeting of the council Sept. 21. Council's proposal to allow farm animals to be used for emotional support is on hold after Chukwuocha pulled the ordinance from the agenda.(Photo: Jerry Habraken/The News Journal)Buy Photo

A Wilmington City Council proposal to allow farm animals to be used for emotional support is on hold.

Councilman Nnamdi Chukwuocha pulled the ordinance from the agenda before last week's meeting where it was scheduled for a final vote.

"Councilman Chukwuocha will be holding this legislation tonight for further consideration," Legislative Director David Karas said by email.

The fate of the proposal is unclear. Chukwuocha did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday morning.

If passed, the law would allow city residents to find consolation in animals currently off limits in their own backyards -- including chickens, ducks, geese, pigs, donkeys, horses, cattle, goats, sheep or oxen. Wilmingtonians can already use dogs or cats for emotional support.

Citizens with mental or emotional disabilities could seek help with a support animal as prescribed or recommended by a licensed physician or psychologist, the ordinance states.

Unlike service animals like seeing eye dogs, emotional support animals do not need to be trained, and people don't necessarily rely on them to complete specific tasks. Emotional support animals are intended to provide companionship and comfort, according to Chukwuocha's legislation.

During a committee meeting last week, Councilman Vash Turner expressed concern about the range of animals the law would allow. The ordinance does not outline a weight limit. He voted against moving the legislation out of committee.

"It’s very broad," he said. "I think we've got to rethink that."

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Wilmington City Council member Va'Shun Turner speaks during a regular meeting of the council Sept. 21.(Photo: Jerry Habraken/The News Journal)

Karas said the ordinance would likely not create an "influx of large oxen" in the city because those animals cannot be domesticated.

According to the city code, "domesticated" is defined as an animal that "has been raised (or) maintained in confinement or otherwise domesticated as to live in a tame condition."

Last week, Chukwuocha defended his legislation. He said that contrary to misconceptions about his bill, emotional support animals would not be roaming the streets of Wilmington, and private businesses would not be forced to accommodate them.

"It doesn't apply to public places or anywhere else where these animals are banned," he said. "It's only about housing."

Chukwuocha said the legislation was not intended to meet a need of any particular constituent but rather fills a gap in the city code.

"All we're doing with our legislation is recognizing the needs of individuals that have emotional or mental support needs that have been verified by a physician that says these emotional support animals will benefit them."